Big 12 rankings: OSU takes over as Big 12’s top team

1. Oklahoma State (2-0, next game Saturday vs. Lamar) — Sure, they gave up four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to UTSA, when their substitutes were playing. But if J.W. Walsh develops into a true run/pass threat, it’s hard to see many Big 12 teams matching them.

2. Oklahoma (2-0, next game Saturday vs. Tulsa) — The Sooners rank in the top 30 nationally in rush defense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and total defense. Compared to where they were last season, that is a huge and positive turnaround and not surprising with Mike Stoops in charge.

3. Baylor (2-0, next game Sept. 21 vs. Louisiana-Monroe) — Two games and two ridicuously easy victories so far. Maybe we should call the Bears “Mini Oregon?”

4. TCU (1-1, next game Thursday @ Texas Tech) — Gary Patterson feels much more comfortable with his quarterback situation this time around with Boykin taking over than he did last season.

5. Texas Tech (2-0, next game Thursday vs. TCU) — For all of the ballyhoo about Kliff Kingsbury, Baker Mayfield and the Red Raiders’ offense, Matt Wallerstedt’s defense unit has been big so far. Tech leads the conference in rush defense and ranks third in sacks.

6. Kansas State (1-1, next game Saturday vs. Massachusetts) — Bill Snyder still worried about Wildcats’ consistency, even after three-TD victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. If it’s any consolation, the Wildcats are catching Texas at exactly the right time during their conference opener next week.

8. West Virginia (1-1, next game Saturday vs. Georgia State) — Dana Holgorsen vows to “shake things up” in his passing game and wide receiver starters and could alternate his quarterbacks against Georgia State.

9. Kansas (1-0, next game Saturday @ Rice) — Most promising part of the victory over South Dakota was KU’s special teams. This week’s factoid is that Justin McCay’s TD grab late in the first half vs. South Dakota was the first by a KU receiver in 456 attempts since Oct. 22, 2011 — a period of 1,078 minutes, 46 seconds and three overtime periods.

10. Iowa State (0-1, next game Saturday vs. Iowa) — After embarrassing first-game loss to Northern Iowa, the Cyclones can reclaim momentum for the season by beating their biggest and most traditional rivals when they square off for the Cy-Hawk Trophy.